About Us
Our Story
We are a community of individuals and families committed to creating a more connected, sustainable, and meaningful way of living together — with neurodiversity at the center.
Founded by Parents
How We Began
Front Porch Cohousing was founded by parents of autistic adults who saw firsthand that modern housing had failed their children. They watched a system offer only institutional group homes or isolated rental units — neither of which provided the genuine community connection, home ownership, or lasting security that every person deserves.
In response, they created a community model that balances privacy with togetherness, independence with interdependence. Our coliving approach provides private homes for each resident while fostering shared spaces and collective activities that bring people together.
Today, Front Porch Cohousing stands as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to building our first community in Bucks County, Pennsylvania — a testament to what is possible when families refuse to accept the status quo.
See Our Community
The Model
Our Living Model
Front Porch Cohousing creates Coliving Homes in a Neuroinclusive Planned Community where residents actively participate in the design and operation of their neighborhood. Each household has a private, self-contained home, but residents come together to manage their community, share resources, and enjoy common facilities.
Unlike traditional neighborhoods, neuroinclusive planned communities are designed to foster interaction and cooperation while respecting individual privacy and autonomy. This creates a unique living environment that combines the best of both worlds — and for adults with I/DD, it provides the supportive services they need without sacrificing independence.
What Guides Us
Our Core Values
These principles guide every decision we make and shape the culture of our community.
Community & Connection
Fostering deep relationships and a sense of belonging.
At Hilltown Oaks, neighbors know each other by name. Shared outdoor spaces, community meals, and everyday proximity create the kind of genuine friendship that most adults with I/DD have never had access to — and that research shows is one of the most powerful determinants of long-term health and wellbeing.
Sustainability & Stewardship
Living lightly on the earth, together.
Shared resources, durable construction, and intentional land use are built into the Hilltown Oaks design from the ground up. We build communities meant to last for generations — not to be retrofitted, sold, or converted when funding cycles change.
Inclusivity & Respect
Embracing diversity and mutual understanding.
Neuroinclusive design means the community works for everyone — neurodiverse and neurotypical residents alike. Hilltown Oaks is not a segregated facility. It is a real neighborhood where adults with I/DD own their homes, choose their neighbors, and live as full members of the broader Bucks County community.
Collaboration & Mutual Support
Working together for the common good.
Residents, families, support providers, and community neighbors all have a role in making Hilltown Oaks work. Governance is participatory. Decisions are made collectively. The community is designed so that everyone has something to contribute — and something to gain.
The Details
How Our Community Works
Shared Decision-Making
All major decisions affecting the community are made collectively through consensus-based processes. Every member has a voice in shaping our shared future.
Shared Outdoor Spaces
Shared gardens, gathering areas, and common green spaces between homes create natural opportunities for connection. Neighbors are welcome to share these spaces, fostering organic community bonds.
Neighborly Connection
Life at Front Porch Cohousing is neighborly, not programmed. Residents and their neurotypical neighbors share outdoor spaces and build genuine friendships in the course of everyday life.
Community Participation
Each household contributes to the community through work teams, committees, and shared maintenance responsibilities. This collaborative approach keeps our community thriving.
Leadership
Board of Directors
The Front Porch Cohousing Board of Directors is the governing body of our non-profit, focusing on high-level strategy, oversight, and accountability. As parents of autistic adults themselves, our board members bring both professional expertise and lived experience to every decision.
Jim Richardson
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Jim has over 35 years of consulting services experience and has been investing in real estate for 40 years. As a principal in a commercial real estate capital consulting firm, he has experience raising and managing discretionary investment capital. As a parent of a grown son with autism, his business vision and personal mission connect in a most meaningful way.
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Nancy Carey
Co-Founder & Vice President
Nancy has been involved in the autistic community since the day her son was diagnosed 25+ years ago. Her business background and personal interest in advancing awareness and support for individuals living on the autism spectrum has intersected in unique ways over the years.
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Steve Grumann
Executive Director, Government Relations
Steve is the proud husband of TeriLyn and dad to Reed, Simon, and Lyla. The behavioral services they were able to get for their Autistic son, Simon, lifted him from a frustrated, non-verbal boy into a highly articulate, kind, and engaged young man. As Simon makes his way into adulthood, Steve is immensely pleased to help create the safe, respectful, and integrated living environments that Simon and everyone like him richly deserve.
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Expertise & Guidance
Advisory Board
Our Advisory Board brings nationally recognized expertise in housing development, fundraising, governance, and community inclusion — ensuring that FPC builds neighborhoods where everyone truly belongs.
Read the April 2026 announcement
George Kiriakidi
Advisory Board Member | President, Prime Custom Builders
George Kiriakidi brings over two decades of residential construction expertise and a deep-rooted commitment to the local marketplace to the Front Porch Cohousing Advisory Board. As the President of Prime Custom Builders, an award-winning firm established in 1996, George has built a reputation for integrity, attention to detail, and a hands-on approach to creating homes of distinction. A business graduate of Temple University and a native of Bucks County, PA, George is one of only two builders fully committed to the development of Front Porch's planned neuroinclusive communities.
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Steve Yates
Advisory Board Member | President, Lynn Builders
Steve Yates brings more than 35 years of technical expertise and a heartfelt commitment to personalized service to the Front Porch Cohousing Advisory Board. As a licensed professional engineer and the President of Lynn Builders, Steve has dedicated his career to combining high-level craftsmanship with the latest industry technologies to build homes of true distinction. He is one of only two builders fully committed to the success of Front Porch's Neuroinclusive Planned Communities, bringing a unique perspective that emphasizes technical competency and meticulous attention to detail. His background as an engineer allows him to expertly navigate the complexities of modern building regulations, ensuring our projects are structurally sound and innovatively designed to meet the specific needs of our residents.
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Christine Martin
Advisory Board Member | President, Shared Wellness
Christine (Chris) Martin joins the Front Porch Cohousing Advisory Board with nearly four decades of dedicated service and leadership in the I/DD field. As the President of Shared Wellness and co-founder of Shared Support Inc., Chris has spent her career advocating for the rights, inclusion, and community participation of individuals with complex needs. Her expertise spans systems innovation, transition advocacy, and trauma-informed care — including spearheading grant initiatives to enhance mental health services, supporting clinical teams in transitioning individuals from institutional settings into community living, and designing programs for people with complex behavioral health challenges. Her vast experience in program design and community-based services provides a vital perspective as FPC works to expand inclusive, empowered housing solutions.
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Alex Nocella
Advisory Board Member | CEO, Shared Wellness
Alex Nocella brings a wealth of experience in counseling, community trauma therapy, and organizational leadership to the Front Porch Cohousing Advisory Board. Currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of Shared Wellness, Alex has been instrumental since 2015 in enhancing community-based services through clinical expertise in trauma therapy and person-centered planning, community development initiatives that foster inclusive environments, and educational leadership as an LMS developer and staff training architect. A resident of Doylestown and active member of the Doylestown Rotary, Alex also participates in the Lifesharing Program — demonstrating her personal and professional dedication to the power of shared living and supportive community networks.
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Joyce Lenhardt, AIA
Advisory Board Member | Principal, Lenhardt Rodgers Architecture + Interiors
Joyce Lenhardt brings a wealth of architectural expertise and a deep commitment to mission-driven design to the Front Porch Cohousing Advisory Board. As a Principal and Owner of Lenhardt Rodgers Architecture + Interiors, Joyce has dedicated much of her career to Senior Living, specializing in programming, master planning, and design leadership. Her firm's work — ranging from affordable senior housing to comprehensive life plan communities — reflects her belief that thoughtful design can empower residents and strengthen social bonds. An active contributor to the Philadelphia region's non-profit landscape, Joyce frequently advocates for affordable housing and innovative residential models at industry conferences such as Environments for Aging.
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Kevin Burns
Advisory Board Member | Retired, SAP America
Kevin Burns joins the Front Porch Cohousing Advisory Board with a deep-seated belief in the power of strategic vision and community-building. Recently retired following a standout 27-year tenure at SAP America, Kevin's career in the software industry spans more than 36 years, defined by expertise in sales leadership and a unique ability to help clients turn complex organizational strategies into tangible realities. A dedicated advocate for inclusive support systems, Kevin is a staunch supporter of the Els for Autism Foundation and its mission to provide world-class programs for individuals on the autism spectrum. On the Advisory Board, he merges high-level strategic acumen with a genuine desire to champion innovative, supportive housing solutions that prioritize belonging, dignity, and community connection.
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Cubby Sporrong
Capital Formation Advisor
Cubby brings more than 10 years of experience in commercial real estate finance and development. An investor at TPG Angelo Gordon for real estate private equity and founder of Arche Women's Network, Cubby provides direction on Front Porch Cohousing developments and financing solutions.
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Desiree Kameka Galloway
Strategic Advisor, Community Development & Operations
A nationally recognized leader in disability and neuro-inclusive housing. As founder of Neuro-Inclusive Housing Solutions, LLC and former Director of the Autism Housing Network, she has shaped national policy, guided more than 250 organizations, and co-authored the landmark report "A Place in the World."
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Danielle Vickers
Senior Advisor, Major Gifts & Campaign Development
Dani has over 20 years of experience driving philanthropic growth for mission-driven organizations, with a proven track record of raising more than $10 million. As the proud mom of Sloane, a spirited 9-year-old with Down syndrome, her lived experience fuels her commitment to advancing neuroinclusive communities.
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Toby Mathis, Esq.
Legal & Estate Planning Advisor
A nationally recognized attorney and co-founder of Anderson Business Advisors and Infinity Investing, specializing in asset protection, tax strategy, and estate planning. As Legal & Estate Planning Advisor to FPC, Toby provides strategic guidance on entity structure, governance, and philanthropic planning.
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Mary Brawner
Community Development Coordinator
Mary brings more than 20 years of experience in healthcare and community engagement. A dedicated advocate for accessibility, employment inclusion, and community-based supports, Mary is also the proud parent of a daughter with autism — informing her deep commitment to creating housing solutions that enable individuals of all abilities to thrive.
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Collaboration
Our Partners
At Front Porch Cohousing, we don't just provide homes — we build communities. Our partners share our vision and dedication, offering services that range from financial planning to architecture and community advocacy.
Residential Construction
An award-winning residential construction firm established in 1996, Prime Custom Builders brings over two decades of expertise and a hands-on commitment to building homes of distinction. President George Kiriakidi is one of only two builders fully committed to the development of Front Porch's neuroinclusive communities.
Visit Prime Custom Builders →
Residential Construction & Engineering
Led by licensed professional engineer and President Steve Yates, Lynn Builders combines 35+ years of technical expertise with the latest building practices to deliver homes of true distinction. Steve is one of only two builders fully committed to the success of Front Porch's Neuroinclusive Planned Communities.
Visit Lynn Builders →
I/DD Housing Advocacy & Consulting
Neuroinclusive Housing Solutions is dedicated to expanding housing options for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their expertise in I/DD housing advocacy and consulting directly supports Front Porch Cohousing's mission to create ownership-based, neuroinclusive communities.
Visit Neuroinclusive Housing Solutions →
I/DD Services & Community Living
Shared Wellness provides specialized services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, rooted in a belief that vibrant community connection is essential for individual growth. Led by Christine Martin and Alex Nocella, Shared Wellness brings nearly four decades of I/DD expertise to the Front Porch community model.
Visit Shared Wellness →
Architecture & Interior Design
An accomplished architecture and interior design firm specializing in mission-driven design — specifically senior living, places of worship, and affordable housing. With a 70-year history, they are known as the 'people' people, thriving on applying their skills to realize each client's unique vision.
Visit Lenhardt Rodgers →
Asset Protection & Estate Planning
Anderson Advisors takes a unique approach to asset protection, working on a fee-based structure so clients can take an active role in implementing their plan. They offer a free 45-minute Estate Planning strategy session for FPC families.
Free Estate Planning Session →
Special Needs Financial Planning
The 1847 Financial Special Needs Planning Team works with families who need help creating a comprehensive financial strategy for their loved one with special needs — developing a complete financial and social strategy to assist individuals in living the life they desire.
Visit 1847 Financial →Historical Context
The Unfinished Promise
In 1978, a federal court ruled that the residents of Pennhurst State School in Chester County, Pennsylvania had been subjected to conditions no human being should endure. The landmark case — Halderman v. Pennhurst — established a constitutional right to community-based care and made Pennsylvania a national leader in deinstitutionalization.
The promise was clear: close the institutions, build something better.
Pennsylvania kept the first half of that promise. By the early 1990s, the state had closed nearly twenty institutions that had housed tens of thousands of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Pennhurst Longitudinal Study — a five-year federal research effort — proved that former residents thrived in community settings, gaining adaptive skills even after decades of institutionalization.
But the second half of the promise — building the community infrastructure to replace what was closed — remains unfinished. Today, 11,462 Pennsylvanians are on the ODP waiting list for community-based services. More than 4,200 are in emergency status, meaning their primary caregiver has died or become incapacitated. The average wait is 40 months.
Front Porch Cohousing exists to prove the model works — starting with our flagship proof-of-concept community, Hilltown Oaks, in Bucks County. Our PORCH℠ Framework is designed to be licensed and replicated by other mission-aligned nonprofits across Central and Western Pennsylvania, so that what we are building in the Southeast can become the blueprint for communities statewide.
For the full documented history, request access to The Pennhurst Declaration — a companion research site maintained by Front Porch Cohousing.
Request Access to The Pennhurst DeclarationWant to Learn More?
Whether you're a family, a supporter, or simply curious about our neuroinclusive planned community model — we'd love to connect.